Story of the English - Helene Guerber

The Duke of Marlborough

William III. reigned five years jointly with Mary and eight years after her death. Under his wise rule
English law and liberty made great progress, and while he was never greatly loved, he was
much respected. He was a stern, silent, but good and earnest man. He loved his wife
dearly, and after his death a ring containing a lock of her hair was found tied to his
arm.

Besides helping the country to become strong and prosperous, William founded two great
institutions—the Greenwich Hospital for sick and disabled seamen, and the
world-renowned Bank of England.

It had been decided by Parliament that if William and Mary died without children the crown
should pass to Anne, the second daughter of James II. A good, gentle, and kind-hearted
woman, the new queen was not well educated, nor clever, nor handsome. She had married a
very insignificant Protestant, Prince George of Denmark, but although they had many
children, all died when babies, except one son who lived to be eleven.

When Queen Anne came to the throne, in 1702, all the preparations had been made to carry
on the war which in Europe was called the "War of the Spanish Succession," and in the
colonies "Queen Anne's War." In this contest the English, Dutch, and Germans banded
together in the Grand Alliance, to punish the French king, Louis XIV., for placing his
grandson upon the throne of Spain.

The Germans were commanded by Prince Eugene; but the Dutch and English forces were in
charge of the Duke
of Marlborough, who had already fought under James and William. This general, who never
lost a battle or failed to take a town, was always calm and deliberate, forming a great
contrast to the impetuous Prince Eugene.

One day, we are told, when a council of war was called, Prince Eugene and the other
officers were all in favour of attacking the enemy on the morrow, but Marlborough would
not consent. Prince Eugene argued for a while, then flew into a passion, taunted
Marlborough with cowardice, and finally challenged him to fight a duel. But the duke
remained perfectly cool, refused the challenge, and allowed the prince to depart in anger.
Early the next morning, however, Marlborough came to Prince Eugene's tent to awake him and
bid him prepare for battle. The prince sprang up joyfully, saying, "But why would you not
consent to this last night?"

"I could not tell you my determination last night," answered Marlborough, "because there
was a person present who, I knew, was in the enemy's interest and would betray us. I do
not doubt we shall conquer, and when the battle is over I will be ready to accept your
challenge."

Prince Eugene, like a true gentleman, seeing that he had been in the wrong, now promptly
apologized for his passion on the night before; and when he and the duke parted amicably,
the latter said: "I thought, my dear prince, you would in time be satisfied."

This strangely assorted couple of commanders was very successful, and although the French
tried to make the duke ridiculous by writing a long ballad about him, they were thoroughly
beaten in the four battles of Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet. The news of these victories was received with joy in
England, and after each new triumph the queen bestowed some new reward upon her brave
general.

It was thus that Marlborough received the Woodstock estate, where the grateful English
people built him a palace which is still called Blenheim, in memory of his greatest
victory. He also received the Garter, which was generally given only to kings or princes,
and large sums of money. It is said that the greater part of these gifts were bestowed at
the suggestion of his wife, Lady Churchill, who was Anne's most intimate friend. This
woman was very clever and imperious, and had a great influence over the gentle queen; but
she became so proud that at last she treated even the queen with scorn.

After patiently submitting to all Lady Churchill's caprices for a long while, Anne finally
grew very tired of her. She therefore made a friend of her lady of the bedchamber, Mrs.
Masham, and sent the Duchess of Marlborough away. The gifts bestowed upon the duke now
became fewer; but those he and the duchess had already received have belonged to their
family ever since.

The Duke of Marlborough, who was one of the greatest generals that ever lived, and one of
England's military heroes, was nevertheless a strange mixture of all that was great and
noble, and, alas! of all that was mean and small. The great qualities which make every one
admire him were spoiled by the fact that he was so fond of money that he would do the
meanest things to increase his fortune. Besides, he was not always faithful to his king,
and did not consider his promises sacred.